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„Shen Fei!”
The woman's call was barely audible in the noise of the street. The servants ran back and forth, unloading the wagon to be ready to go.
The man stared at the piece of paper, concerned.
„Shen Fei!”
The man tore his head from the errand list and turned to the woman who ran up to him gracefully.
„My lady”, he bowed slightly.
„How do I look?”, Liu Ran smoothed her gown, then lifted her hand to her hair.
Shen Fei looked at her closely. The dress was a little more modest than she usually wore, and her hair was lacking in rich ornamentation.
„My lady, why are you dressed like this today?”, he asked astonished.
Liu Ran took the paper from his hands and looked at it curiously.
„Thought I'd help you buy errands for Erlang.”, she said in sweet voice, „Dressing like this makes travelling easier.”
„You can leave the chores to the servants and me”, Shen Fei strongly objected, „My lady, don’t exhaust yourself.”
„As long as I can help Erlang, nothing will exhaust me”, she said, smiling, „And after all, it’s me who spent the whole night preparing elixirs with him”, a slight flush appeared on her cheek at the memory. „So who could be more appropriate to buy the right ingredients? I know that my father always paid attention to their quality. I want to make sure they're perfect.”
Shen Fei didn't object this time. Perhaps he actually felt he might not be able to cope with the task. He could fight pretty well. He was also a help and advice for his master. But he didn't know much about alchemy.
„Yet”, he thought, laughing inside.
After dismissing worried Yunzhi to the kitchen, they both bent over the paper once more.
„I’ve seen that manuscript”, said Liu Ran a little quiter, „The bat guano needs to be toasted with sticky rice and ground into the finest granules. We need realgar as well. It is pungent. We should ask them to pack it separately. We must buy some sandalwood too. I remember seeing it at the west market. But firstly we need to buy everything else. I know this store. We go there with Yunzhi from time to time to buy the rose powder for the bath.”
Shen Fei looked at her in admiration. For a noblewoman, she had pretty good knowledge of basic necessities. He thought that maybe, apart from a pretty face and shapely figure, his mistress had talents just waiting to be discovered. Shen Fei hoped Erlang would have enough patience.
„The carriage is ready, my lady.”, he said.
He helped her in, jumped onto the trestle and slammed the whip.
They both missed someone sitting in the near distance. The man with a stern face was watching them darkly throughout the whole conversation. As the carriage drove away, another man put down his burlap sack and rested it against the steps of Baili’s manor. He nodded his head in confirmation towards the man on the other side of the street. It was clear that they had tracked down the manuscript. The only thing left to do is find out if it was already used..
***
„I'm so happy, Shen Fei!”, Liu Ran clapped her hands, „Erlang will surely be delighted!”
The man threaded all the parcels, one by one, on his forearms and, so laden, stood beside her in the door of the shop.
He narrowed his eyes against the glare of the sun, and then realized something was wrong. The carriage in front of the store was definitely not theirs.
„We should go, my lady.”, he only managed to whisper, but too late. His eyes widened in silent terror.
From the crowd that was milling in the street about ten men emerged suddenly. Shen Fei tried to free his hands from the tangled strings, but they wrapped around his hands like little malicious snakes. Before he could free his hands and be able to grab his sword, he already received a few punches. Shen Fei felt everything spinning around him as his body fell limp to the ground. As through a haze he also saw two men grabbing Liu Ran and pulling her towards the carriage. The woman first screamed and tried to pull away, then, struck in the stomach, only began to sob weakly. The men dragged her inside and the carriage moved on and then disappeared into the crowded maze of Luoyang streets.
***
„Erlang!”
„Shen Fei, what happend?!”, Baili Hongyi's worried eyes fell on his friend's head. From a broken browline a trickle of blood ran down Shen Fei's cheek, staining the shoulder of his robe.
"We fell into an ambush." the other replied, his voice crushed.
He leaned heavily against the railing, but then hissed in pain. The earlier wound on the arm seemed to open.
"You?" Baili Hongyi was surprised.
"Our lady was with me. She insisted that we go to the store together, and I couldn't refuse. I’m sorry, Erlang, I couldn't defend her." Shen Fei fell to his knees.
Baili Hongyi felt a cold sweat trickle down his back. He stared at the figure of the kneeling man in silence for a moment.
„Where is she?" he asked in a hollow voice, "And what exactly happened?"
„They took her. I don't know who they were, but they had to know we would be in that store.” Shen Fei replied without looking up. „I’m so sorry.”
His whole body felt dull. He had failed. He was there to protect her, and he hadn't done anything to stop those men. He felt totally useless.
„It's not your fault.” Baili Hongyi replied in a voice that was trembling slightly. „The people behind all of this are ruthless. We have to find her.”
„Erlang! Erlang!” suddenly they heard the cry of the servant. „A letter to you, my lord.”
Baili Hongyi read the words on the sheet of paper quickly.
"I have to go," he said in a stern voice.
"I’ll go with you, my lord," Shen Fei got up from his knees abruptly.
"No!" Baili Hongyi growled, then added more gently, "Ask Yuzhi to dress your wounds and rest. Look after the house."
"But, my lord.." Shen Fei began to say, but his friend had already disappeared from his sight.
***
„Where is Liu Ran? Where is she?”, Baili Hongyi screamed towards the closing door. „Where is she?”, he struck the wood a few times with his fist, but it was to no avail. The guards left, leaving him alone.
„Erlang! Erlang”, suddenly there was the cry of a desperate woman from behind the wall, "Erlang, is that you?"
„Liu Ran, Liu Ran, I'm here”, he tried to calm his sobbing wife.
"Erlang", hearing his voice, she began to cry even more poignantly, "This is all my fault. I'm sorry! I shouldn't have left the house at all. You warned me to be careful and I didn't listen. I put you in danger.. "
„Liu Ran, don't blame yourself! And don't worry! I will find a way to get you our of here. Give my some time!”
"Erlang .." the woman repeated once more. "Be careful!"
Baili Hongyi tried desperately to find a way, but in vain. He knew that if he failed to get out . Liu Ran would die.. they would both die.. But wood and metal were stronger than his hands. Finally, resigned, he sat down, leaning against the wall that separated them. Perhaps they should just say goodbye now.
„Erlang”, Liu Ran’s voice was so quiet now, „Ever since we got married, I've done nothing to help you. All I did was to get you in trouble. We are here because of me..”
„Liu Ran”, he interrupted her gently, „We are married. We are supposed to be each other's support. Ever since we got married, you've always been understanding” his reassuring voice now murmured like the waters of a forest stream, „Our life has been in harmony. I feel quite nice about it.”
She was still sobbing quietly, but he was sure that a sweet smile appeared on her face, the one he liked so much.
"I knew it", the woman perked up, "Erlang, you went to eighteen cosmetic stores in Luoyang to find me and you drew a portrait for me. You must care about me.", There was hope in her voice now. Hope she might not have misunderstood his words. Hope a relationship that started in such an unfortunate way would have a happy future after all.
„I'm glad you like it”, he answered, smiling with relief.
„Thank you, Erlang.”
Perhaps this is how it will be easier for us to die, he thought, Our hearts are lighter now. And let it stay that way.
***
We both almost died. The thought was still buzzing somewhere in her head like an intrusive fly. She tried to push it deep into the subconscious so as not to spoil the moment.
Because now the most important thing was that they were still alive. The most important thing was his arm embracing her strongly and the gentle shake of a his hand encircling hers. The most important thing was his words, which he uttered there while they waited for the irrevocable, but she hoped were sincere. "I think quite nice about it.". The first touchingly honest confession about a marriage she'd got him into. Liu Ran hoped maybe she might finally reach his heart.
Perhaps that is why, instead of being terrified, a smile of relief and joy wandered on her lips. Her husband. She felt safe with him.
The clatter of hooves and the rocking of the carriage were like a lullaby. She rested her head against his chest and let herself be carried away by the feeling of happiness that had fallen upon her unexpectedly.
We are going home. Together.